http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/s...ts/2003/04/01/1049255651.00353.8796.6145.html Collier's situation: ‘Very frustrating’ By KEITH WALTHER, News-Sun Sports Writer Ever feel like someone has a negative opinion of you and, no matter what you say or do, you come to the realization that their misguided opinion will likely never change? If so, then you know how Jason Collier is feeling right now. Collier, the former Catholic Central star, just wants a chance to prove his worth as a viable big man in the NBA. Trouble is, he believes his team, the Houston Rockets, has no desire to give him that opportunity. The facts bear this out. On Feb. 19, Collier was placed on the injured list with a foot injury and he has not played in a game since. Here's the catch: his foot is just fine, thank you. “Basically, they do that when they don't want you around anymore. That is how they get rid of you — they put you on the injured list and let you ride it out,” said Collier, who is averaging 2.8 points and eight minutes per game with the Rockets this season. “It's very frustrating. Really, when someone has a preconceived notion in their head about you, there's nothing you can do to change it. That's the situation I'm in.” Collier, in fact, doesn't think he will see game action any more this season. “It's very, very frustrating because they never can give you a definite answer as to why they are doing things,” he said. “And they give other people tons of chances to prove themselves and I never really got one. Others guys can miss a whole year and come back and not have to go over any hurdles like I have had to.” And so Collier says his agent is already testing the market, seeing what interest there might be in the 7-foot, 260-pound center after this season is completed. “I'll be a unrestricted free agent. In a way, that's kind of a relief but, in another way, it's hard because you feel like you are starting over,” Collier said. “But at least it gives me a chance. I want to exhaust every option that I can to play basketball here (in the NBA). I could get a job overseas. Some guys go and then come back and get good contracts. You just have to play your cards right and see what's the best thing for you to do. It's not easy when you know you can play and no one is giving you an opportunity.” Collier doesn't profess to be superstar material but he believes adamantly that he can be a productive performer for an NBA team that needs a versatile big man. “I know I may not be a superstar or this or that ... but at least give me the chance to fail,” Collier said. “If I never get that chance, how do they know? You just hope you can find a niche, a team that has a need.” It is likely that Collier got caught in a numbers game. On one hand the Rockets have 7-6 rookie sensation Yao Ming and, on the other, they are paying $7 million per season to backup center Kelvin Cato. “When they are paying someone that kind of money, you can't put {M4them on the injured list,” Collier explained. “The whole thing with Yao Ming ... well, they have put him in every position to succeed and there is just no way they are going to let him fail because if they do then it makes them look bad because of all the publicity he's got being the No. 1 draft pick.” Apparently, the odd man out is Collier. “That's the way it goes. The NBA is a day-to-day business. The situations I've been in, I've found out that the NBA is not an equal opportunity employer,” Collier said with a laugh. “One day someone loves you and the next day someone hates you. I just don't know what I've done to make them treat me the way they have. Still, I can't complain too much because it's better than any 9-to-5 job because I'm getting compensated so well.” Collier will watch his $3.1 million, three-year contract expire at the end of the season, unsure of his future. The Rockets, by not picking up a team option for a fourth year, demonstrated long ago that they do not see Collier as part of their future plans. But, to Collier, putting him on the injured list was a rather low blow. “All of them (my injuries) have been phantom injuries. I'm fine,” Collier said. Injury? What injury? Collier continues to practice with the team. “Some guys have been put on the injured list and just left or told teams to waive them,” Collier said. “I'm not doing that. I want to try to be professional as much as I can. I go to practice every day because if you do then they have nothing bad to say about you and other teams start seeing the real picture, figure it out, and maybe give me a chance.” A chance is all Collier ever wanted. {M4Reach Keith Walther at kwalther@coxohio.com
Hmmm...players put on the injured list with fake injuries?? Damn Jason, next thing you know, the government will be telling us stilly stuff like cigarettes contributing to lung caner
Hey, I would love to have seen Collier get a chance at PF, he could not be worse then EG. Let's hope the Rockets are making the same mistake with Boki that they are making with Collier. In the right offense Collier can be effective, but not in this offense. He hustles, plays decent position D and has a jumpshot out to 18 feet, who could not use a big man like that? Oh, that's right...the Rockets. DD
From the limited minutes I've watched from this guy, he couldn't even catch the ball. DaDakota, I don't know where your idea of him being better than EG or being good enough in any team comes from. Boki is a different story. Boki is only a rookie while this guy is already a 3-season veteran and couldn't even get off the bench in a team without a legit center until this season. He's not going to be more than 12th man in any team in the league.
ooohhh...I dont know about that one. Defensively, he would be like a turtle guarding a rabbit. Imagine Garnett, Duncan, R. Wallace, or Nowitzki going ISO on Collier. Not a pretty sight.
quit whining like a little girl, collier. it's a disruption to the team... especially at this time of the year. however, i wish that the rox would play cato as pf and yao as center at the same time. the extra center to come off of the bench could be collier. oh yeah... i'd rather see boki on the playoff roster as well. tito maddox should be left off. can't afford having players miss games with unexcused absences.
He got more of a chance than most college players get. Everything is relative Jason. But good luck. At least you have some heart.
Personally, I've always liked the guy. He could certainly get playing time at center on most other NBA teams. Remember when he had 10 points as a rookie against Shaq??? C'mon, the guy at least deserves a better chance than he's been given. And he CAN'T be any worse than Eddie Griffin. Collier hustles his butt off, plays with a lot of heart, and has a great jump shot with great range. Any guy that can draw a dominant opposing big man that far out of the paint should get playing time. As weak as we are at the 4, I'd at least experiment with MoT and JC with EG as the 3rd option. Personally, I would have planted EG's butt to the bench an long damn time ago. I'd let EG in by saying, "Griff, you even so much as look at the 3-pt line and I'll kill you."
This guy could give the Rox everything Najera gives the Mavs (except the ethnicity). I actually think, from the little of him I've seen, that he has heart, hustle, and enough talent with size to earn court time.
Before we got Yao Ming, Collier got every chance to try to unseat Kelvin Cato at center. He never did it. Despite Cato's contract if Collier outplayed him he would have played more minutes. Look at what Cato is doing now in backup minutes. Quality work. If Collier had ever showed that type of play he would have gotten more time. He never did. never. Sorry, but it is laughable to think that Collier could play PF for this team. That metaphor of a turtle guarding a rabbit is spot on. Griffin has a lot to learn and a lot to improve upon, but Griffin is a hell of a lot better than Collier.
I feel for you, Jason. It must be hard pulling a 6 figure salary while traveling around the country in luxury and getting the best seat in the house for 82 NBA games while troops are fighting and dying half a world away for 20k a year. Jason, YOU CAN'T PLAY.
*lol* You haven't seen Collier play have you? Seriously, the guy has no business runnin' his trap like he is -- especially during the team's most crucial part of the season. Now granted, JC hasn't had a lot of PT. But, from the little bit he's gotten -- the little time I've seen him play -- he's just been a big body out there. Not saying there's anything wrong with having a body on the floor to take up fouls on the likes of Shaq and Duncan and any of the beast @ PF, but we could use any scrub for that, right? Offensively the guy is limited (decent jumper, but what else?) and defensively sure he hustles, but so does Mark Madsen -- and Mad Dog is a better player than Collier from my vantage point....which ain't sayin' much. And what are we talking about here? He's complaining about not getting PT over the likes of Yao and Cato...uh, does the phrase "no sh*t" mean anything to Collier? *lol* Move on. GO ROX!
the guy is seems to play hard, but he's the 3rd Center on the team. If he can play better than Yao or Cato, he'd be playing but he isn't. the most important thing is winning and it seems that the coaches believe the Rockets have a better chance of winning with Cato and Yao in. I would have to agree.
I never understood what the thinking was when we acquired this lummox several years ago from Milwaukee. It is too bad that The Cat can only post in the fantasy forum because I would love to read him defending Collier. I am pretty confident that Jason Collier will be the ONLY former rocket not to go off on us in the future or make big shots like others have done on us in the past, i.e. Avery Johnson, Mario Elie, Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Richard Jefferson (technically he was a Rocket), etc.
Collier has size, hustles and has a decent shot out to 18'. Basically, Mehmet Okur of the Pistons with a little less range. Collier will be on some EC teams roster next season.
While he is undoutedly the 3rd best center on the team, I do agree somewhat with DaDakota. Collier shows heart, hustle, and the few times he's played this year, a surprising efficiency. The bigger question, though, is Jason Collier systematic of the Rockets approach to developing talent over the last few years which has shown little improvement in their star players (Francis and Mobley have improved on athleticism and in terms of their ego, for sure), no improvement in their later picks (Langhi, Collier, Maddux, Morris - he may have improved, but if he has, it is confidence based, not coaching, imo), and, if possible, regression in their one take a chance pick (Griffin). Didn't the Rockets used to be one of those teams, like the Jazz, where not so great players could look solid (Kenny Smith, Maloney, Horry, Chucky Brown, Chilcutt, Bullard, Dickerson, etc.)?? What happened to this team, its system, style, and coaches??
i actually felt sympathy for the guy until i got to the part about him not admitting that yao and cato both deserved more playing time than him. collier, you're a fat imbecile who has no business whatsoever in the NBA. GATER, that is THE best sig of all time. nice work.
